Play 23: Breaks Are Always Too Short

CHARACTERS
VINCENT, 16
TIM, 16

(They sit at a table in a crowded cafeteria eating lunch. Other people are sitting at the other tables around them, and occasionally walk by. They are all talking, but their words aren’t discernible, creating a low hum of talking in the background.)

TIM
(sarcastically)
So fun being back.

VINCENT
Oh yes.

(They sit eating in silence for a few seconds.)

TIM
How was your break?

VINCENT
Too short.

TIM
Same here.

VINCENT
Relaxing though, and much needed.

TIME
Definetely.

VINCENT
How bout yours?

TIM
Pretty much the same.

VINCENT
What you do for Thanksgiving?

TIM
Had it with some family in Boston.

VINCENT
Cool.

TIM
Not really. What you do?

VINCENT
Some family friends came over.

TIM
How was it?

VINCENT
Not bad.

TIM
That’s good at least.

VINCENT
Yeah.

(He looks around for a second.)

This sucks.

TIM
What?

VINCENT
Just…

(Pauses for a second, then gestures all around him with his hand.)

This.

TIM
You mean school?

VINCENT
Yeah, school, the noise, everyone just (beat.) this.

TIM
Yeah. Well, at least the week’s a total of (beat.) on tenth over.

VINCENT
Please don’t remind me.

TIM
Sorry.

VINCENT
And hey, after two more weeks and finals we got winter break at least.

TIM
True. That’s definitely comforting.

VINCENT
Not enough though.

TIM
Nope.

(By now almost everyone has gradually left the cafeteria.)

(Vincent looks down at his watch.)

VINCENT
Fuck!

TIM
What?

VINCENT
Class starts in two minutes!

(He starts eating his sandwich frantically.)

TIM
That sucks man.

(Vincent finishes eating his sandwich.)

VINCENT
Why aren’t you worried?

TIM
I got fifth free.

VINCENT
I hate you.

TIM
Have fun in class.

(Vincent glares at Tim and then glancing down at his watch again picks up his trash and runs out of the cafeteria.)

(Tim sits eating what’s left of his lunch, a few other people sit around the cafeteria eating and talking.)

(Blackout.)